Scratch and Dent Dojo Pro Level Samurai Sword #11

My only prior sword experience was with a 50 dollar sword from Amazon. I don't know the brand, I just gave my sensei $50 bucks and he gave me a basic katana. There were no markings on the sword. That sword has pretty much fallen apart after 4 years of use in martial arts. This #11 from Ronin is heavier than I expected. It is the same weight as my junky Amazon sword, however, the big difference is the #11 is balanced correctly. Or, at least, at a much better level than the Amazon sword. The quality is so much better. Everything feels and looks authentic - at least comparatively so. Movements during kata practice feel more fluid and I'm not being pulled off balance by a top heavy sword. The wrappings are tight. The saya is nice. The Bo-Hi is well defined. The sword is sharp. And the tachkazi (sound) it makes is great. I wanted a sword that made an audible sound and this certainly checks that box. I'll buy another sword from Ronin in the future. I would love an option to customize a sword from Ronin. Or, maybe see some katanas with a little more color on the handle or saya. Not like a manga sword, but, an option to change the color of the silk wrapping would be nice.

I am very impressed with the katana. Nice craftsmanship and beautiful sharp blade

Haven't found neither scratch nor dent when buying from the scratch and dent sale. Love ronin katana.

I never intended to get into katana at all. I have a passion for jian and dao. I've always had a weird, unfounded, unconscious bias against the katana. Particularly the "standard length" katana. An illogical bias, but a bias all the same. Probably due to all the hype around them growing up. Whateverthecase, about a month ago, I made the call to buy an Dojo-pro model #31 O-katana. I fell fell in love with it from the 1st time I held it. The addition of this model #11, my 5th Dojo-pro, has laid my bias completely to rest. I have been enjoying it so much that I've had to rethink my entire opinion on the katana. Now... I still prefer a 30+ inch blade, but there's something really special about the handling characteristics of this sword. It's fast, but still has a nice, weighty feel to it. It's hard to describe. And while it isn't a featherweight, it is light enough to make crazy quick snap cuts from the wrist. I don't have much experience with swords of any kind, let alone katana, but the model #11 feels light and fast to me while still having enough mass to push through a hatder target without a lot of effort and that's a positive to me. I'm 6' tall so for me, my #14 hits all the buttons but this #11 is certainly no slouch. Most of my new sword pals are in the 5'10 range and they genuinely prefer this blade length. At the end of the day it's all personal preference anyway. This katana is so nice to use that it's actually changed my own personal preferences and has me rethinking and rearranging the entire list of swords I intend to purchase. Indeed, this is my 5th Dojo-pro. I absolutely intend to keep adding Ronin Katana products to my collection. Also... Ronin Katana employees are fantastic! Easy to work with, helpful, knowledgeable, experienced and just downright nice people. Old fashioned, honest to God, real deal customer service. Other companies would benefit if they were to take a page from the Ronin Katana play book. 10/10 customer service, every single time.

It may be a S&D unit, but the overall quality of the Dojo Pro #11 is excellent. Any defects are minute. I am not a neat picking person and use this sword to practice cutting tatami and plastic bottles. It is my way of getting some exercises in my backyard. It makes an addicting sound as a bonus.